Trade fair highlight 01. September 2026
NaKura (sustainable bio-based artificial turf sports pitch), a product made from our ARBOBLEND®
GAME CHANGER. Maximum sporting performance – FIFA QUALITY PRO.
Artificial turf pitches have become an integral part of modern sport. In Germany alone, there are around 9,000 such pitches. At the same time, conventional systems are coming under increasing criticism due to microplastic emissions – across the EU, an estimated 16,000 tonnes of microplastics from artificial turf are released into the environment every year. The NaKura project (Sustainable Bio-Artificial Turf Sports Pitch) offers a sustainable alternative.
At the heart of the system is our ARBOBLEND® material. The ARBOBLEND® infill we have developed is a plant-based granulate that is biodegradable in soil and water, yet remains durable over the long term within the artificial turf system. The artificial turf fibres, too, are made from a specially developed bio-based ARBOBLEND® formulation with high resistance to temperature and weathering. As a result, the bio-artificial turf acts as a long-term CO₂ sink. The system’s elastic layer is also based on single-type plastic recyclates and supports a circular economy-oriented material concept.
The NaKura organic artificial turf sports pitch in Ellwangen demonstrates that sustainable sports facilities are technically and economically viable. The project sets new standards for environmentally friendly artificial turf systems and can serve as a model for future sports facilities in Germany and Europe.
In addition to TECNARO GmbH, the project partners include the Institute for Biomaterials and Biomolecular Systems (IBBS) and the Institute for Plastics Technology Stuttgart (IKT) at the University of Stuttgart, Morton Extrusionstechnik GmbH and ifeu – Institute for Energy and Environmental Research Heidelberg gGmbH. The project was funded by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (BMEL) and the Agency for Renewable Resources (FNR). It was implemented by Tarkett/Tarkett Sports/FieldTurf, the architectural practice Eger & Partner.
Artificial turf pitches have become an integral part of modern sport. In Germany alone, there are around 9,000 such pitches. At the same time, conventional systems are coming under increasing criticism due to microplastic emissions – across the EU, an estimated 16,000 tonnes of microplastics from artificial turf are released into the environment every year. The NaKura project (Sustainable Bio-Artificial Turf Sports Pitch) offers a sustainable alternative.
At the heart of the system is our ARBOBLEND® material. The ARBOBLEND® infill we have developed is a plant-based granulate that is biodegradable in soil and water, yet remains durable over the long term within the artificial turf system. The artificial turf fibres, too, are made from a specially developed bio-based ARBOBLEND® formulation with high resistance to temperature and weathering. As a result, the bio-artificial turf acts as a long-term CO₂ sink. The system’s elastic layer is also based on single-type plastic recyclates and supports a circular economy-oriented material concept.
The NaKura organic artificial turf sports pitch in Ellwangen demonstrates that sustainable sports facilities are technically and economically viable. The project sets new standards for environmentally friendly artificial turf systems and can serve as a model for future sports facilities in Germany and Europe.
In addition to TECNARO GmbH, the project partners include the Institute for Biomaterials and Biomolecular Systems (IBBS) and the Institute for Plastics Technology Stuttgart (IKT) at the University of Stuttgart, Morton Extrusionstechnik GmbH and ifeu – Institute for Energy and Environmental Research Heidelberg gGmbH. The project was funded by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (BMEL) and the Agency for Renewable Resources (FNR). It was implemented by Tarkett/Tarkett Sports/FieldTurf, the architectural practice Eger & Partner.
TECNARO GmbH
Contact
Mr. Jürgen Pfitzer